• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.627-634
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• 2018

Soil stabilization is an essential engineering process to enhance the geotechnical properties of soils that are not suitable for construction purposes. This study focuses on using coconut coir, a natural fibre to enhance the soil properties. Lime, an activator is added to the reinforced soil to augment its shear strength and durability. An experimental investigation was conducted to demonstrate the effect of coconut coir fibers and lime on the consistency limits, compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength, stress-strain behaviour, subgrade strength and durability of the treated soil. The results of the study illustrate that lime stabilization and coir reinforcement improves the unconfined compressive strength, post peak failure strength, controls crack propagation and boosts the tensile strength of the soil. Coir reinforcement provides addition contact surface, improving the soil-fibre interaction and increasing the interlocking between fibre and soil and thereby improve strength. Optimum performance of soil is observed at 1.25% coir fibre inclusion. Coir being a natural product is prone to degradation and to increase the durability of the coir reinforced soil, lime is used. Lime stabilization favourably amends the geotechnical properties of the coir fibre reinforced soil.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2017

This paper experimentally investigates the effect of yield strength of reinforcing bars and stirrups on the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) circular piers. Reversed cyclic loading tests of nine-large scale specimens with longitudinal and transverse reinforcement of different yield strengths (varying between HRB335, HRB500E and HRB600 rebars) were conducted. The test parameters include the yield strength and amount of longitudinal and transverse reinforcement. The results indicate that the adoption of high-strength steel (HSS) reinforcement HRB500E and HRB600 (to replace HRB335) as longitudinal bars without reducing the steel area (i.e., equal volume replacement) is found to increase the moment resistance (as expected) and the total deformation capacity while reducing the residual displacement, ductility and energy dissipation capacity to some extent. Higher strength stirrups enhance the ductility and energy dissipation capacity of RC bridge piers. While the product of steel yield strength and reinforcement ratio ($f_y{\rho}_s$) is kept constant (i.e., equal strength replacement), the piers with higher yield strength longitudinal bars are found to achieve as good seismic performance as when lower strength bars are used. When higher yield strength transverse reinforcement is to be used to maintain equal strength, reducing bar diameter is found to be a better approach than increasing the tie spacing.

• KCI Concrete Journal
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.89-97
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• 1999

The purpose of this research is to investigate the utilization of recycled fine aggregates as a material to apply to a building finished walls or as a decorating material in combination with a polymer. The strengths of two resin mortars using recycled fine aggregates and natural fine aggregates was made. In order to improve the workability and the strength of the resin mortar with recycled fine aggregates, partial replacement of recycled fine aggregates with natural ones was made with the application of various type of fillers. The results, it show that the compressive strength and flexural strength of resin mortar using the recycled fine aggregates were about 70% to 100% of those of resin mortar using natural fine aggregates. It was enough to assure the utilization of the recycled fine aggregates as a material for the production of resin mortar. From the result of partial replacement of recycled fine aggregates with natural ones, the compressive strength was Increased from 5% to 15% and the flexural strength was much as 5% to 20% as a result of 70% substitution It was also found that the use of garnet powder shows a similar tendency in the compressive strength and slag powder does in the flexural strength and tensile strength.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.275-294
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• 2003

In this study, 24 high-strength concrete dapped-end beams were tested to study the effects of the amount of main dapped-end reinforcement, the nominal shear span-to-depth ratio, and the concrete strength on the shear strength of dapped-end beams. Test results indicate that the shear strength of dapped ends increases with the increase in the amount of main dapped-end reinforcement and the concrete strength. The shear strength of dapped-end beam increases with the decrease of nominal shear span-to-depth ratio. A simplified method for determining the shear strength of reinforced concrete dapped ends is also proposed in this paper. The shear strengths predicted by the proposed method and the approach of PCI Design Handbook are compared with test results. The comparison shows that the proposed method can more accurately predict the shear strength of reinforced concrete dapped-end beams than the approach of PCI Design Handbook.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

An experimental technique for determining the spalling strength of rock-like materials under a high strain rate is developed. It is observed that the spalling strength of a specimen can be determined by only knowing the wavelength, loading peak value and length of the first spallation of an incident wave under a specific loading waveform. Using this method in combination with a split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) and other experimental devices, the spalling strength of granite specimens under a high strain rate is tested. Comparisons with other experimental results show that the new measuring method can accurately calculate the dynamic tensile strength of rock materials under a high strain rate.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2021

This study relates to a production of Quaternary Cement Concrete (QCC) prepared by using Micro Silica (MS), Marble Dust (MD) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA), followed by an investigation towards fresh and hardened properties of blended concrete. A total of 39 mixes were cast by incorporating different percentages of MS (6%, 7% and 8%), MD (5%, 10% and 15%) and RHA (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) as partial replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement. The workability of fresh concrete was maintained in the range of 100±25 mm by adding 0.7% of Super Plasticizer in the mix. Optimum mechanical strength was observed at combination of 8% MS+5% MD+10% RHA. Marble dust replacement from 10 to 15% and Rice husk ash replacements from 15 to 20% depicted a substantial reduction in compressive strength at all ages. Durability parameter with respect to water absorption at 28 days shows an increasing trend as the percentage of blending increases.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.129-139
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• 2019

This paper develops a new method for estimating the elastic-plastic buckling strength of the truss structures under the static and seismic loads. Firstly, a new method for estimating the buckling strength of the truss structures was derived based on the buckling strength of the representative member considering the parameters, such as the structure configurations, boundary conditions, etc. Secondly, the new method was verified through the buckling strength estimation and the finite element method (FEM) analysis of the single member models, portal frame models and simple truss models. Finally, the method was applied to evaluate the buckling strength of a simple truss structure under seismic load, and the failure loads between the proposed method and the FEM were analyzed reasonably. The results show that the new method is feasible and reliable for structure engineers to estimate the buckling strengths of the truss structures under the static loads and seismic loads.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.509-525
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• 2015

Predicting residual strength of corroded plates is of crucial importance for service life estimation of aged structures. A series of nonlinear finite element method is employed for ultimate strength analysis of stiffened plates with pitting corrosion. Influential parameters, including plate thickness, type and size of stiffeners, pit depth and degree of pitting are varied and more than 208 finite element models are analyzed. It is found that ultimate strength is reduced by increasing pit depth to thickness ratio. Thin and intermediate plates have minimum and maximum reduction of ultimate strength with stronger stiffeners, respectively. In weak stiffener, reduction of ultimate strength in thin and intermediate plates depends on DOP. Reduction of ultimate strength in thick plates depends on thickness of plate and DOP. For intermediate plates, reduction for all stiffeners regardless of shape and size are the same.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 2018

This paper approaches to improve the mechanical and durability properties of low calcium fly ash geopolymer concrete with the addition of Alccofine as a mineral admixture. The mechanical and durability performance of GPC was assessed by means of compressive strength, flexural strength, permeability, water absorption and permeable voids tests. The correlation between compressive strength and flexural strength, depth of water penetration and percentage permeable voids are also reported. Test results show that addition of Alccofine significantly improves the mechanical as well as permeation properties of low calcium fly ash geopolymer concrete. Very good correlations were noted between the depth of water penetration and compressive strength, percentage permeable voids and compressive strength as well as between compressive strength and flexural strength.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.80 no.6
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• pp.689-699
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• 2021

The present study aims to understand the behaviour of low-strength masonry prisms constructed with locally-produced low-strength hollow concrete blocks. Compression tests were conducted on masonry prisms constructed with three different mortar grades of cement-sand ratios of 1:3, 1:4.5 and 1:6 representing strong, moderately strong and weak mortar. Stress-strain curves were generated from the test results for the masonry prisms. The hollow concrete masonry units employed in this study are some of the weakest as compared to other masonry units employed by other researchers. The compressive strengths for masonry prisms with mortar grades 1:3, 1:4.5 and 1:6 are 2.21 MPa, 2.19 MPa and 2.25 MPa respectively. The results indicate that the masonry compressive strength of such low-strength hollow concrete block masonry prisms is not influenced by the mortar strength. Simple relationships to estimate the modulus of elasticity and compressive strength of masonry prisms is also proposed.